Chapter 203 Reckless Acts

Xiao Qing's face darkened.

The hall was completely silent.

Chu Lianzhou knelt on the ground, his breathing slightly restrained but not disordered.

These words weren't spoken on a whim. Perhaps her change of attitude today stemmed from this very consideration.

"Lianzhou means that what I said does not count."

Chu Lianzhou remained silent.

Xiao Qing discovered that Chu Lianzhou was not only intelligent, but also very bold.

This doesn't seem like someone who would let others bully them.

So, what was going on with her in the Chu family?

"So, Lian Zhou wants to return to the Chu family? Is returning to the Chu family a better option than agreeing to my suggestion?"

Although she was not happy, she couldn't bear to see her kneeling on the ground in such a posture despite having an injury on her leg.

Why are all the people around her so stubborn?

"Get up and speak. I am not so intolerant of dissenting opinions."

However, Chu Lianzhou remained in the same posture.

"This humble woman has acted presumptuously and offended Your Majesty. I dare not sit before you."

Xiao Qing was almost amused by her anger.

"Since you know this, how dare you say it so frankly? Aren't you afraid I'll be angry and punish you?"

"Your Majesty's kindness is remembered, but I currently have no way to repay Your Majesty. To be honest with Your Majesty is the least I can do to repay you."

Xiao Qing raised an eyebrow. "If you are truly grateful, shouldn't you grant my request as a form of repayment?"

Chu Lianzhou clearly did not think so.

"Firstly, the Chu family has declined and has no capable sons to shoulder heavy responsibilities, so they cannot be Your Majesty's support; secondly, the Prime Minister and the Grand Tutor are on equal footing and will certainly not sit idly by while Your Majesty chooses your own wedding partner; thirdly, Lian Zhou has concerns and cannot let go of the Chu family, so he cannot wholeheartedly serve Your Majesty."

She spoke clearly and gently, “Therefore, if Lian Zhou were to rashly agree, His Majesty would have to find ways to get the Prime Minister and the Grand Tutor to approve it now; and he would face difficulties in the future because of this decision. Lian Zhou does not want His Majesty to regret it in the future, and he does not want to be an ungrateful person.”

Xiao Qing remained silent for a long time.

She wanted to say something, but every time the words reached her lips, she felt something was off.

How does Chu Lianzhou's brain work?

As she was thinking, she suddenly heard the sound of clapping at the door.

Xiao Qing was startled and saw Chu Lianzhou's shoulder move slightly, but she did not look up.

Xiao Qing turned around and saw Fu Mingyi, and a feeling that was hard to describe welled up inside her.

Her gaze went past his shoulder to behind him, where Ma Hong and Mingxiu were kneeling on the ground, and she didn't know how long they had been kneeling.

She turned her gaze away somewhat unhappily, only to discover that what Fu Mingyi was holding in his arms was... the late emperor's ruler again!

She felt a sudden tightening of the skin in her palm, and her eyes twitched a few times.

If Fu Mingyi doesn't come, fine; but if he does, it's not a good thing.

If she were to be slapped by Fu Mingyi in front of Chu Lianzhou, she would remember his "kindness" for the rest of her life!

She quickly stepped forward with a grin and said, "Grand Tutor, you've arrived very early today. Have you eaten yet?"

Chu Lianzhou remained motionless, pretending not to hear.

Just as Fu Mingyi was about to raise the ruler, Xiao Qing grabbed his arm, looked up, and blinked.

"Grand Tutor, are your hands sore? How about Mingxiu gives you a massage?"

Fu Mingyi, give me some face! I just got ridiculed!

Fu Mingyi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I now believe that Your Majesty's judgment is indeed excellent."

His gaze lingered on Chu Lianzhou for a while. Seeing that Xiao Qing was still holding his arm, he shook his sleeves and bowed to Xiao Qing, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask Miss Chu a few questions."

He came in and closed the door.

Xiao Qing inwardly cursed.

The scene of Fu Mingyi interrogating Mei Shu back then is still vivid in my mind. Is he going to interrogate Chu Lianzhou now?

"Um... asking is fine, but Chu Lianzhou is injured..."

“Your Majesty, I do not intend to make things difficult for Miss Chu. If she finds the pain unbearable, she can naturally sit down.”

Chu Lianzhou remained motionless.

Xiao Qing looked at this and then at that.

If Fu Mingyi hadn't been holding the ruler, and if Chu Lianzhou hadn't been there, she would have argued with Fu Mingyi.

Fu Mingyi always has a knack for provoking her without her even realizing it!

"Your Majesty, please take a seat. I only have a few questions to ask."

In just a short while, Chu Lianzhou understood.

His Majesty not only lacks the ability to confront the Grand Tutor, he also has no intention of doing so.

"Chu Lianzhou, stand up and speak."

Chu Lianzhou did not move.

Xiao Qing was even angrier. "Fine, so nobody listens to what I say anymore?" She put her hands on her hips and sat down angrily.

Chu Lianzhou struggled to his feet and sat down in the bottom half of the seat.

Fu Mingyi smiled and sat down in the lower seat next to Xiao Qing.

"Six years ago, your mother didn't die of illness, but was injured by bandits, resulting in the deaths of both mother and son, right?"

Chu Lianzhou stared at him in shock, his fingers unconsciously clenching into fists.

Xiao Qing was also surprised.

She had a feeling that the reason Fu Mingyi hadn't come to see her these past two days might be because...

"In the two years that followed, one of your uncles and one of your brothers in the Chu family died one after the other, and you..."

Fu Mingyi paused.

Chu Lianzhou suddenly stood up, his eyes turning crazed.

"Stop talking!" Chu Lianzhou clenched his fists, and his voice revealed that he was emotionally broken.

Xiao Qing stood up unconsciously, somewhat dumbfounded.

She spent two days trying to get Chu Lianzhou to lower her guard, but Fu Mingyi did it in less than a quarter of an hour...

"You investigated me!" Chu Lianzhou's eyes were red as he pointed at Fu Mingyi. His usually cold face turned fierce under his madness.

Xiao Qing's heart skipped a beat.

What's going on?

Fu Mingyi, however, remained calm and said, "Miss Chu's methods are superb, causing uncles, nephews, and brothers to kill each other. What, are you afraid people will say it?"

They deserve to die!

“Yes, they deserve to die. They were among the bandits who caused your mother's death. A life for a life, it's perfectly fair.” Fu Mingyi nodded, his tone indifferent.

“Not only them, the entire wicked Chu family deserves to die.”

Xiao Qing felt her heart was being challenged.

"You can't do this on your own. That's why you get close to His Majesty..."

"I did not approach His Majesty!"

"Yes, you didn't take the initiative."

Fu Mingyi smiled sarcastically, "But when you realized that His Majesty could neither satisfy your desires in terms of temperament nor power, you gave up without hesitation. Is that right?"

Chu Lianzhou gritted his teeth, trying to calm himself down.

Xiao Qing's mood sank.

"Your mother didn't want you to seek revenge. That's why you've done so many things against her wishes, and you're finding it hard to face people and afraid of what they'll say, right?"

Just as Chu Lianzhou was about to calm down, he was enraged again by one of his words.

"How do you know she doesn't want me to get revenge? She just doesn't dare! She can't!"

Fu Mingyi raised his eyes, his expression growing increasingly indifferent.

"Because she did it willingly. If you hadn't stopped her, she might not have died so tragically..."

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Chu Lianzhou swept away all the objects on the table next to him.

Fu Mingyi sneered and whispered, "You are indeed audacious."